Inspiring the next generation
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s extensive programme of tours and workshops invites families and young visitors to explore the museum in a fun and interactive way, enabling children to look closely and think deeply about the artworks on display and the wider cultures and ideas they represent
The Yalla team took part in the Geometric Patterns workshop, which explores the different shapes in the Children’s museum…
The Children’s Museum: A special place for families
Guests aged 13 and younger can enjoy unlimited complimentary entry to Louvre Abu Dhabi.
The Children’s Museum at Louvre Abu Dhabi is an exploratory space providing the opportunity to engage with artworks from the museum’s collection to young visitors (aged 6-12) and their families.
It presents its own special exhibitions, with artworks displayed in specially designed cases at children’s eye level and interactive mediation tools. With a range of immersive and interactive zones, the Children’s Museum offers a programme of hands-on activities and educational workshops.
The inaugural exhibition in the Children’s Museum is Travelling Shapes and Colours. It explores shapes and colours, such as floral and geometric ornamentation, through a selection of works from artistic traditions across the globe, including 16th-century Turkish ceramics, 18th-century decorative French vases and a 19th-century painting by German artist Paul Klee.
Travelling Shapes and Colours remains on view until November 2018.
Family Workshops
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s initiatives for children and families include an ongoing programme of tours, workshops and interactive sessions, inviting young visitors to explore Louvre Abu Dhabi through activities such as calligraphy, mask-making and visual storytelling.
Run by expert staff at Louvre Abu Dhabi, these activities encourage children to learn about and try out a range of artistic methods, practices and concepts at age-appropriate levels.
Workshops are available from January to June 2018:
- Architecture Under the dome (Grade 4 – 12): Fridays 14:30 – 16:00
Students discover and observe the complex geometric shapes that inspired Jean Nouvel’s modern interpretation of the traditional dome, before working together to create a large-scale model.
- Put on Your Mask (Grade 3 – 9): Friday 16:00 – 17.30
Investigate the masks in Louvre Abu Dhabi’s collection and unearth how they were used in different civilisations. Discover how human and animal forms inspired the design of these spectacular masks. Back in the workshop, create a mask using an assortment of 3D materials.
- Science and Wonder: Map your own Personal Expression (Ages 8 – 12 years old): Saturday 16:00 – 17.30
Thinking of early and modern maps as a way of describing the world and planning our journeys, families will explore the Globes exhibition before moving to the art studio to create a map that expresses their view of the world.
- Geometric Patterns (Ages 6 – 12 years old): Saturday 13:30 – 15:00
During a guided tour of the Children’s Museum identify all the different shapes in the artwork before designing your own geometric pattern in the workshop.
- My Museum Travel Journal (Grade 3 – 8)
Students walk like artists through the museum. Equipped with sketching materials and a camera, students capture their favourite objects from around the world as they journey through the galleries. Back in the workshop, students apply the finishing touches by adding colour to drawings, reflecting on their global expedition.
- UAE-Inspired (Grade 1 – 5)
3D Motifs Students investigate Emirati artworks focusing on Pendant with animal pairs from Ras Al Khaimah. In the workshop, they create their own 3D symbol jewellery motif using clay to mould and sculpt into new designs.
- Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses (Kindergarten – Grade 5)
Students explore depictions of royalty drawn from many different cultures. Such as the Bactrian princess, Gudea prince of Lagash and King Ramses II to create inspired figurines from clay.
- Colours and Atmosphere (Kindergarten – Grade 5)
Students discover different types of geometric patterns found in artworks exhibited in the Children’s Museum and discuss colours and feelings to produce a sunshield, inspired by Paul Klee.
Guided Tours
Guided Tours are available from January to June 2018, and there are currently three tours to choose from:
- Louvre Abu Dhabi General Tour
Participate with students in a unique tour in the galleries that highlights many artworks from different cultures and civilisations as well as the universal message of Louvre Abu Dhabi. In this tour, students also explore the key elements of Louvre Abu Dhabi’s architectural design.
- UAE-Inspired (Grade 5 – 12)
Students learn about the birth of Louvre Abu Dhabi, stemming from the vision of the founding father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Under the dome, they learn about Louvre Abu Dhabi architectural design and Jean Nouvel’s inspirations from the UAE. Then in the permanent galleries, they explore the Emirati artworks currently on view.
- My First Visit to Louvre Abu Dhabi (Grade 3 – 6)
Participate with students in a tour that highlights some of the artworks currently on view. This tour also brings to light the different professions in the museum and the key elements of Louvre Abu Dhabi architectural design.
Schools
Since its inception, Louvre Abu Dhabi has worked closely with schools, universities and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Education and Knowledge to develop a range of resources suitable for students of all ages, integrate the museum into the national curriculum and inspire students to explore fields such art history, archaeology, anthropology and museum studies.
Louvre Abu Dhabi provides a range of resources for educators, including guides to significant artworks which offer question prompts to engage students and ideas for interactive classroom activities. The materials are available for school tour groups and classroom teaching.
During its opening week, Louvre Abu Dhabi launched an educational portfolio for teachers from primary to secondary levels. This includes detailed descriptions of Louvre Abu Dhabi artworks linked to elements of school curricula, with observation prompts, discussion guides and hands-on activities appropriate for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The activities are designed to promote a thought-provoking and imaginative approach to art, the pleasure of discovery and the importance of students’ own views and ideas.
